Oilers fans are scrambling to get a piece of the action as round one playoff tickets go on sale this week.

A limited number of tickets is being made available to private Edmonton Oilers Pipeline members Thursday; they're required to register before midnight on Tuesday to be eligible.

They go on sale to the general public on Friday.

"I can't wait," said Edmonton waiter Brad Newsom. "You can bet I'll be one of the first in line (for tickets), if not the first."

Newsom said he's been an Oilers fan since his family moved to Edmonton from Toronto nearly 20 years ago.

"It's nice to see them doing so well," he said, crossing his fingers for a Stanley Cup win.

"Wouldn't that be something? " he said. "I might have to offer up my first-born for that one - just kidding."

Jennifer Ewanchuk said she remembers the playoffs of 2004 in Calgary and the camaraderie that ensued among people in that city.

"It's a good time either way, win or lose," she said. "Even people who aren't hockey fans are converts during the playoffs. It's good for the game and good for the teams."

Other Oilers fans say having their team in the playoffs is a victory in itself, no matter how far they get.

"You've gotta admit, this is really exciting," said Josh Knudsen, who vows to be the best supporter he can be.

And while he doesn't plan to be scoring tickets to catch more than a game or two live, he says he'll watch them from the nearest TV set.

"Oh, I'll be watching every game with my Oilers gear on and a beer in my hand," Knudsen said. "If they win, you'll hear me yelling from the rooftops."

In Thursday night's nail-biter, the the Vancouver Canucks were eliminated from the playoffs in a game against the San Jose Sharks, giving the Oilers the last playoff qualifying spot in the Western Conference.

The National Hockey League suspended last season during a bitter contract dispute between players and owners.

The year before, many Oilers fans were forced to do the unthinkable by cheering for the Calgary Flames as the only Alberta team vying for the Stanley Cup.

Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday at all Ticketmaster outlets.

You can also buy them online at edmontonoilers.com or over the phone at 414-GOAL (4625) while supplies last. A limit of six tickets per game per person is in effect.